Colon, Panama

[moosa]

we will be in Colon on Feb. 19, 2012 from 8am to 5pm and would like a city tour with lots of history and architecture. can anyone recommend a guide or tour? we have been through the canal so we want to do something different maybe off the beaten path. thanks :D

[BillB48]

There will be really nothing to offer in Colon, it could be the poster child of a gritty Caribbean port in a B movie. If you would like a little primer of Colon, in the first part of the movie Quantum of Solace, the city of "Port au Prince" was actually filmed in Colon, not exactly an endorsement when your town is the stunt double for Port au Prince:eek:. Some of the tours that may fit your needs are going to be on the Pacific side in Panama City. The tour would include the ruins of Old Panama and a stop in the Casco Antiguo or sometimes referred to as Colonial Panama might be something you would be interested in. There is also a tour that will take you an Embera Indian village, the Emberas are the indigenous people that inhabit the Darien region of Panama.

 

As far as a guide is concerned, due to the distances involved from the ship I am a little partial to ship's tours in this case. There is a guide the is used by a lot of people on this board and overall gets good reviews. That would be My Friend Mario, I have no direct knowledge of him however.

[moosa]

thanks Bill for the info. I think you're right and we will book with the ship on this one. love the cat picture btw :D

[BillB48]

The kitty cat, oh yes, he was helping me type this morning,all laid out in my chair while I sat in a folding chair, but he's a big love:).

 

Hope you find something good at the Colon stop!

[moosa]

does anyone know if Celebrity or somewhere on the dock offers shuttles into town?

[BillB48]

In Colon the ship is docked practically in town, you would not need a shuttle or transportation here. A little caution here, Colon is not somewhere you would want to stroll down the streets and window shop. While it is not unsafe to venture out via taxi or a tour, you really don't want to strike out on your own. There is a mall that is adjacent to where the ship docks, that area is fine to browse around in, just don't head out without benefit of a taxi or tour. Taxis are available at this mall if there is something you find you may wish to do. While the "dispatcher" will speak English, just make sure your cabby is proficient enough. Even though English is widely spoken sometimes English is not the cabby's strong suit. Agree on what you are doing and the price before getting in the cab.

 

Just for info, Panama City is about 40 miles away over a fairly decent road for the most part.

[horn hi aces]

Being the not very bright person that i occasionally am, my wife and i did venture about a mile from the dock into town after getting back early from our excursion. We felt mildly nervous because I had read of the potential dangers. We decided to sit down at a local hangout and get a beer. After quickly downing it, we decided we had pushed our luck enough and there was really nothing worth seeing and started heading back. Within a minute several uniformed men with sub machine guns came up to us and asked us for identification. We told them we were on carnival and had left passports on ship. They were fine with this, but told us that it wasn't safe for american tourists and we received an escorted tour back to the ship (2 about 20 yards in front of us and 1 about the same behind). It was a neat experience, but I don't feel the need to do it again.

[moosa]

wow that's crazy! looks like celebrity tours for Panama for sure are being booked on this one! thanks for the feedback, always appreciated.

 

what tours have you all done in Panama? anyone see Panama city? I love architecture and colonial homes so that's all I want to do anywhere I go :D

[softail]

we will be in Colon on Feb. 19, 2012 from 8am to 5pm and would like a city tour with lots of history and architecture. can anyone recommend a guide or tour? we have been through the canal so we want to do something different maybe off the beaten path. thanks :D

 

Check MYFRIENDMARIO.COM. We have an excursion booked with him.